The Care Quality Commission has increased pay for doctors carrying out essential safeguarding visits for mental health patients after a workforce shortage resulted in waiting time targets being missed.

PERFORMANCE: A review into the unexpected deaths of 18 mental health patients at an East Midlands trust has found “consistent failings” in the way staff carried out risk assessments when investigating the deaths.

WORKFORCE: Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust has set up schemes to help staff from black and minority ethnics backgrounds to develop leadership skills and encourage them to apply for senior roles.